Dobson family gift to Driscoll marks new era for nationally recognized heart program
24 Abril 2024 - 8:42AM
Driscoll Children’s Hospital is celebrating a multimillion dollar
gift by the Dobson Family Foundations, Las Aguilas Enterprises, and
individual Dobson family members to support its Heart Center, a
nationally recognized pediatric cardiac program that treats
children and newborns with the most complex congenital heart
diseases.
Funds from the gift will be used to complete the construction of
the Heart Center’s new procedural suite, a facility that includes
two operating rooms, two cardiac catheterization laboratories with
a 10-bed cardiac intensive care unit all housed on the fourth floor
of the Pavilion building at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. An
additional new 25-bed cardiac intensive care unit will be housed on
the third floor of the Driscoll Pavilion. Furthermore, the historic
gift will establish the Harmon and Grace Dobson Distinguished Chair
in Cardiac Surgery, the first of its kind at Driscoll and in South
Texas. Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Dr. Stephen Langley, who
began leading the heart program in 2019, will be the first
recipient of the prestigious title.
“It’s difficult to express our gratitude in words. The Heart
Center is growing faster than anyone could have anticipated and
most importantly we are achieving outstanding results. This
donation will usher in a new era for pediatric cardiac care in
South Texas,” said Dr. Langley.
The Heart Center at Driscoll Children’s Hospital offers families
access to a wide range of heart specialties and services, including
pediatric cardiology, pediatric cardiac surgery, pediatric cardiac
anesthesia, pediatric cardiac intensive care, pediatric
electrophysiology, cardiac catheterization, cardiac cross sectional
imaging, fetal imaging and other cutting-edge medical services and
technologies. The new Heart Center Procedural Suite will further
advance our specialty care for our patients as well as support our
growth and expanded services.
According to data collected, analyzed and publicly reported by
the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Heart Center at Driscoll
Children’s Hospital has one of the lowest mortalities nationally
for pediatric cardiac surgery. Furthermore, survival at the
Driscoll Heart Center for the highest risk patients is one of the
best in the United States.
“This is the largest gift solely devoted to heart care in
Driscoll’s history. In honor of the Dobson family’s everlasting
gift, the fourth floor of the Pavilion will be named the Dobson
Family Cardiac Suite. Driscoll is grateful to the Dobson family for
their faith in and commitment to our mission,” said Driscoll
President and CEO Eric Hamon.
“Driscoll’s heart program is inspiring. The family is honored to
be a part of a program that cares for the smallest hearts of South
Texas,” said Heather Dobson, president of Tres Grace Family
Foundation.
Media: For more information, press materials, or to
schedule an interview, please reach out to Fernando Ramirez.
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About Driscoll: Driscoll is the premier healthcare
provider for kids in South Texas. We are a nonprofit healthcare
system that has served communities in the Lone Star State since
1953. Today, Driscoll is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare
system in the region, offering care at Driscoll Children’s Hospital
in Corpus Christi and at specialty centers and clinics across South
Texas. Soon, we’ll open Driscoll Children's Hospital Rio Grande
Valley, the first freestanding designated children’s hospital in
the region. Our non-profit community-based health plan, Driscoll
Health Plan, offers Texas families access to local physicians and
other life-saving benefits.
Fernando Ramirez
Driscoll
361-631-2368
fernando.ramirez@dchstx.org